Abstract: The invention provides a UV below 200 nm lithography method utilizing mixed calcium strontium fluoride crystals. The invention includes providing a below 200 nm radiation source for producing <200-nm light, providing a plurality of mixed calcium strontium cubic fluoride crystal optical elements, with the fluoride crystals comprised of a combination of calcium strontium cations having different optical polarizabilities such as to produce an overall isotropic polarizability which minimizes the fluoride crystal spatial dispersion below 200 nm, transmitting <200-nm light through the cubic fluoride crystal optical elements, forming a lithography pattern with the light, reducing the lithography pattern and projecting the lithography pattern with the fluoride crystal optical elements onto a UV radiation sensitive lithography printing medium to form a printed lithographic pattern. The invention includes making the mixed fluoride crystals, optical element blanks thereof and optical lithography elements.

Abstract: Converging air lens structure includes a first refractive medium that has a first index of refraction. A second refractive medium that has a second index of refraction is immersed in the first refractive medium. The second refractive index is less than the first index of refraction. The lens structure features converging lens properties. An aperture stop is disposed in the second refractive medium, which is preferably air.

Abstract: A first optical device according to the present invention comprises a base made of a first optical material and a second optical material having a refractive index different from that of the first optical material, and the base has a concavity, and the second optical material is filled in this concavity. A second optical device according to the present invention comprises a base made of a first optical material and a second optical material having a refractive index different from the first optical material, and the base comprises first and second faces facing each other, a first concavity is formed in the first face and a second concavity is formed in the second face, and the second optical material is filled in the first and second concavities.

Abstract: A first optical device according to the present invention comprises a base made of a first optical material and a second optical material having a refractive index different from that of the first optical material, and the base has a concavity, and the second optical material is filled in this concavity. A second optical device according to the present invention comprises a base made of a first optical material and a second optical material having a refractive index different from the first optical material, and the base comprises first and second faces facing each other, a first concavity is formed in the first face and a second concavity is formed in the second face, and the second optical material is filled in the first and second concavities.

Abstract: An insertion type lens assembly for an optical system which connects a plastic lens and a plastic lens, a plastic lens and a glass lens, or a plastic lens and a barrel. A separation mold surface is located different sides, and a spacer is located between the lenses. The concentric contact plane is located at the inner periphery of the lens core or the sleeve. The vertical contact plane is located at the inner periphery of the lens core or the machining surface of the sleeve. Such that the present invention can avoid hairs on the separation mold surface and increases the precision of the shape of the surface of insert.

Abstract: The energy beam guide comprises a first region having a first refractive index, the first region having an energy beam receiving end and an inclined first boundary opposing the energy beam receiving end. The energy beam guide also includes a second region having a second refractive index that is less than the first refractive index. The second region shares the first boundary with the first region, and has a declined second boundary opposing the first boundary. A predetermined distance separates the first and second boundaries. Finally, the energy beam guide comprises a third region having a third refractive index. The third region shares the second boundary with the second region. Also provided are a method for making and using the energy beam guide.

Abstract: An optical element and manufacturing method thereof are provided which, by preventing the incidence of light on unnecessary portions, can prevent the occurrence of stray light and noise. An optical element 21 is configured from one or more substrates comprising lens substrates 13, 14 in which are embedded lenses 11, 12 of material with higher refractive index than the substrates, and with shielding means 15 to limit the optical path such that incident light propagates only within a prescribed optical path formed on the light incidence-side or emission-side surface of one of the substrates 13, 14. Also, an optical element 21 is manufactured having shield means through the formation of an absorptive or reflective film 15 in the region outside the prescribed optical path or through machining of the region outside the prescribed optical path, performed on the light incidence-side or emission-side surface of a substrate 13, 14.

Abstract: Lens systems and an array of lenses for reproduction, capture and display of three dimensional images. The arrays generally fall into two categories. The first type of array uses air as the low-index material. This type of array may be used, for example, in illuminated displays electronic image detection, machine vision, and real-time 3D video capture. A second type of array uses a fluoropolymer as the low-index material, and conveys a great preponderance all incident light to the image plane.

Abstract: A cemented lens group includes two lens elements, cementing surfaces of the two lens elements being cemented to each other by an adhesive, wherein the adhesive forms an adhesive layer between the cementing surfaces. A filler made of minute solid material is dispersed throughout the adhesive layer. Alternatively, a spacer which determines the thickness of the adhesive layer is provided around the peripheral portions of the cementing surfaces.

Abstract: An approximately rectangular parallelopiped shaped optical element 100 has a substrate (base) 101, a lens 102, and an axially symmetric convex portion 103D formed in an upper surface 100U of the substrate 101. The radius of curvature of the surface of this convex portion 103D is approximately constant. The substrate 101 has an axially symmetric concave portion 101B in a bottom surface 100B of the substrate 101. A radius of curvature of the surface of this concave portion 101B is approximately constant. The concave portion 101B is filled with an optical material having a refractive index different from the substrate 101, thereby forming the lens 102. A flat portion 103E is formed around the convex portion 103D. Axes of symmetry of the convex portion 103D and the concave portion 101B are positioned on an identical straight line and are vertical with respect to the flat portions 103E and 101C.

Abstract: The optical system has a first optical element (11, 17, 19, 26) and a second optical element (12, 18, 20, 27) arranged along an optic axis (10). The optical elements are preferably made from crystalline material with a cubic crystal structure. The first and second optical elements have first and second orientations in relation to the optic axis, which are preferably rotated with respect to each other according to the rotational symmetry of the material. At least one of the first optical element and second optical element is pre-stressed by applying a compressive stress (&sgr;,&sgr;1,&sgr;2) thereto. The compressive stress is applied radially symmetrically relative to the optic axis (10) and compensates for spatial dispersion.

Abstract: A compound refractive lens for focusing, collecting, collimating and imaging with x-rays comprising N unit lenses numbered i=1 through N unit lenses substantially aligned along an axis such that i-th lens having a displacement ti orthogonal to said axis, with said axis located such that the sum of the lens displacements ti equals zero, and wherein each of said unit lenses comprises a lens material of lithium, carbon, or polyimide. A method for molding and housing the unit lenses is provided such that the unit lens have high surface and optical quality, and do not chemically deteriorate due to absorption of water or oxidation.

Abstract: An objective lens for recording and/or reproducing information of an optical information recording medium, comprises a first lens group having a positive refractive power; and a second lens group having a positive refractive power. The first and second lens groups are arranged in this order from a light source side of the objective lens and are made of a plastic material respectively; and the following formula is satisfied: NA>0.85 where NA is a necessary image side numerical aperture for recording or reproducing information of the optical information recording medium.

Abstract: An assembly of optical lenses includes a first lens and a second lens, wherein the two lenses each have a concave surface and the two respective concave surfaces face with each other. The second lens has a contact surface and a separation surface respectively defined in an outer periphery of the concave surface. The separation surface is located closer to a center of the second concave surface than the contact surface. The concave surface of the first lens is engaged with the contact surface. The size of the contact surface is the same as the centering wheel so as to reduce the change resulted from machining between the two lenses.

Abstract: An objective lens for converging two wavelengths of light to their predetermined positions is constituted by two or three lenses. Respective materials for forming adjacent lenses are chosen such that the respective refractive indices of adjacent lenses substantially equal each other with respect to only one of the two wavelengths of light, whereas the form of each lens surface is configured so as to suppress aberration in the objective lens as a whole.

Abstract: A cemented objective lens includes a first lens made of photo-curing resin or thermo-curing resin, and a second lens made of resin to which the first lens is cemented. The cemented objective lens may be manufactured in accordance with the method including the following four steps, a step for forming the second lens made of resin, a step for setting the second lens in a molding device to form a cavity corresponding to the shape of the first lens, a step for charging photo-curing resin or thermo-curing resin into the cavity and a step for curing the photo-curing resin or thermo-curing resin by applying light or heat.

Abstract: This invention provides an optical element for correcting a chromatic aberration corresponding to a short wavelength of a light source and further provides an optical pick-up device having the optical element for correcting a chromatic aberration and adapting for a further higher recording density and larger capacity of the optical recording medium, the optical reproducing device and the optical recording and reproducing device. The optical element for correcting a chromatic aberration arranged between a light source such as a semiconductor laser or the like with a wavelength being 440 nm or less and an objective with numerical aperture NA being 0.55 or more, a focal distance being 1.8 mm or more and an Abbe number at the d-line (587.6 nm) being 95.0 or less has a convex lens with at least an Abbe number at the d-line being 55 or more and a concave lens with an Abbe number at the d-line being 35 or less.

Abstract: This project encompassed design and fabrication of a single pixel for a solar concentrator photovoltaic monolithic microarray. Photovoltaic concentrators offer a competitive electricity cost. Such concentrating microarrays may enable photovoltaic cells with 40-50% efficiency using III-V compound heterostructures. The main components of the design include a thin film solar cell, an array of soft polymer microlenses to optimally concentrate solar radiation, and a heat sink to manage the heat dissipated. Microlens arrays were fabricated in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) using soft lithography techniques and the optical properties (absorbance, lens magnification, aberrations, etc) were characterized. The results indicate that such microarrays can be used for a monolithic concentrating photovoltaic array.

Abstract: An integrated micro-optical system includes at least two wafers with at least two optical elements provided on respective surfaces of the at least two wafers. An active element having a characteristic which changes in response to an applied field may be integrated on a bottom surface of the wafers. The resulting optical system may present a high numerical aperture. Preferably, one of the optical elements is a refractive element formed in a material having a high index of refraction.

Abstract: A cemented lens group including two lens elements, which are cemented to each other by an adhesive; wherein an adhesive layer formed by the adhesive between the two lens elements has elasticity, and the following condition(1) is satisfied:

Abstract: A cemented lens group includes two lens elements, cementing surfaces of the two lens elements being cemented to each other by an adhesive, wherein the adhesive forms an adhesive layer between the cementing surfaces. A filler made of minute solid material is dispersed throughout the adhesive layer. Alternatively, a spacer which determines the thickness of the adhesive layer is provided around the peripheral portions of the cementing surfaces.

Abstract: An afocal lens system consists of a first convex/concave lens bonded to a second convex/concave lens, forming a doublet. An incident collimated beam of light will be reduced by a magnification factor upon exiting the afocal lens system as a collimated beam of light. Applications for the present invention include, but are not limited to, serving as an interface between a ferrule array with 1.015-mm center-to-center spacing and a MEMS device with 0.9-mm center-to-center spacing assuming a magnification factor of 1.128 of the afocal lens system.

Abstract: An optical element 100 has a shape as a rectangular parallelopiped or approximately rectangular parallelopiped formed on one surface 100U with a convex portion 103D. The optical element 100 has a substrate (base) 101 and a lens 102. The substrate 101 and the lens 102 of the optical element 100 have refractive indexes different from each other and can refract light at the boundary of the substrate 101 and the lens 102. Also, the light can be refracted at the surface of the convex portion 103D. The substrate 101 has an axially symmetric or approximately axially symmetric concave portion 101B in a bottom surface 100B of the substrate 101. A radius of curvature of the surface of this concave portion 101B is constant or approximately constant. The concave portion 101B is filled with an optical material having a refractive index different from the substrate 101, while the lens 102 is formed by the concave portion 101B filled with the optical material.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an optical unit having elements (6, 7) which are juxtaposed without an air gap therebetween. The two elements (6, 7) are joined by wringing the same to each other. At least one element (7) is of crystalline material and has an amorphous inorganic layer (70) on the side thereof facing toward the other element (6). The invention is also directed to a method of preparing an element made of crystalline material, such as a fluoride, as well as a method for making a thin optical element of the crystalline material.

Abstract: An optical lens has a first plano-convex lens and a second plano-convex lens, with the planar sides of the two lenses opposite one another and the optical axes of the two lenses offset from one another. The offset allows a non-vertical light beam to enter and exit the lens at a 90° angle with respect to the two convex surfaces of the lens.

Abstract: An optical lens has a first plano-convex lens and a second plano-convex lens, with the planar sides of the two lenses opposite one another and the optical axes of the two lenses offset from one another. The offset allows a non-vertical light beam to enter and exit the lens at a 90° angle with respect to the two convex surfaces of the lens.

Abstract: Lens systems and an array of lenses for reproduction, capture and display of three dimensional images. The arrays generally fall into two categories. The first type of array uses air as the low-index material. This type of array may be used, for example, in illuminated displays electronic image detection, machine vision, and real-time 3D video capture. A second type of array uses a fluoropolymer as the low-index material, and conveys a great preponderance all incident light to the image plane.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an optical unit having elements (6, 7) which are juxtaposed without an air gap therebetween. The two elements (6, 7) are joined by wringing the same to each other. At least one element (7) is of crystalline material and has an amorphous inorganic layer (70) on the side thereof facing toward the other element (6). The invention is also directed to a method of preparing an element made of crystalline material, such as a fluoride, as well as a method for making a thin optical element of the crystalline material.

Abstract: A cemented lens group is formed by cementing three round lens elements. In the cemented lens group, the diameter of the intermediate lens element is made smaller than those of the other two lens elements.

Abstract: In the case of an objective (10), in particular of an objective for a semiconductor lithography projection exposure machine, having a plurality of optical elements supported in mounts, the last optical element (1) in the beam direction is connected directly to the penultimate optical element (2) in a mount-free and exchangeable fashion. The connection can be performed by wringing a thin equidistant plate as last optical element (1).

Abstract: A method of fabricating an objective lens includes the steps of attaching a first lens to a first holder, adjusting an angle between the optical axis of the first lens and the optical axis of a second lens while sliding the second lens on a sphere, and attaching the second lens to a second holder so that the angle becomes 0°, forming contact between first and second planes, sliding the second holder with respect to the first holder in a state where the first and second planes are in contact so that the optical axis of the first lens matches the optical axis of the second lens to carry out decentration adjustment, and fixing the second holder subjected to decentration adjustment with respect to the first holder.

Abstract: High performance microlens arrays are fabricated by (i) depositing liquid on the hydrophilic domains of substrates of patterned wettability by either (a) condensing liquid on the domains or (b) withdrawing the substrate from a liquid solution and (ii) optionally curing the liquid to form solid microlenses. The f-number (f#) of formed microlenses is controlled by adjusting liquid viscosity, surface tension, density, and index of refraction, as well as the surface free energies of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic areas. The f-number of formed microlenses is also adjustable by controlling substrate dipping angle and withdrawal speed, the array fill factor and the number of dip coats used. At an optimum withdrawal speed f# is minimized and array uniformity is maximized. At this optimum, arrays of f/3.48 microlenses were fabricated using one dip-coat with uniformity better than &Dgr;f/f˜±3.8% while multiple dip-coats permit production of f/1.

Abstract: A calcium fluoride crystal in which the light transparency does not deteriorate with consecutive irradiation by high output short wavelength light over long time periods. A calcium fluoride crystal in accordance with the present invention has an internal transmittance of 70% or more for light of a 135-nm wavelength or more. A calcium fluoride crystal contains any one of strontium, aluminum, silicon and magnesium, with the strontium content ranging from 1 ppm to 600 ppm, the aluminum content ranging from 1 ppm to 50 ppm, the silicon content ranging from 1 ppm to 50 ppm, or the magnesium content ranging from 1 ppm to 10 ppm. A calcium fluoride crystal has an internal transmittance of 70% or more for light of a 135-nm wavelength or more and contains 1 ppm or less of La and 10 ppm or less of Y. An optical system for an excimer laser in accordance with the present invention comprises a lens comprising any calcium fluoride crystal set forth above.

Abstract: A lens assembly with materials that densify and rarefy as a function of radiation dose. The lens assembly can be provided for use in photolithographic exposure tools. The combination of densifying and rarefying materials in the lens elements of exposure tools compensates for changes in the index of refraction of the materials. The lens assembly of the present invention corrects, by design, for radiation-induced changes in the indices of refraction of the lens element materials. By compensating for radiation-induced changes, the lens assembly has a longer useful lifetime.

Abstract: An optical element has a first optical member which is a transparent body having two refracting surfaces and a reflecting, curved surface symmetric only with respect to one symmetry plane and a reference axis of which is present in the symmetry plane; and a second optical member which is a transparent body having two refracting surfaces and a reflecting surface and a reference axis of which is not present in the symmetry plane. One refracting surface of the second optical member is coupled to one refracting surface of the first optical member. The reference axis is defined by a ray passing an image center and a pupil center of an optical system including the optical element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, apparatus and lubricant composition for an adjustable wedge that utilizes the relative positioning of adjacently disposed convex and concave surfaces with equal spherical or cylindrical curvatures contacted together by a thin layer of lubricant.

Abstract: Very compact, high numerical aperture, high resolution, ultra-wide field of view concentric optical apparatus. The concentric optical apparatus comprises a concentric lens and a focal surface array disposed along a focal surface of the concentric shell outer lens. The optical apparatus may further comprise an image intensifier tube optically coupled to the concentric lens by way of a curved fiber optic relay having an input surface that is concentrically disposed with respect to the concentric lens. The optical apparatus may also comprise a dewar that houses the focal surface array, and wherein the concentric lens comprises a cold stop for the focal surface array.

Abstract: A lens system defined along an X-Y-Z coordinate system transforms an elliptical optical beam defined as exhibiting a first, fast axis component and a second, slow axis component, into an essentially circular optical beam. A first and a second lens intercepts the elliptical beam and a cruciform cylindrical lens is disposed to intercept the output from the second lens. The cruciform cylindrical lens has a fast lens and a slow lens, the fast lens having a first, front cylindrical surface oriented along the X axis of the coordinate system for magnifying the first, fast axis component, the slow lens having a second, rear cylindrical surface oriented along the Y-axis of the coordinate system for magnifying the second, slow axis component, wherein the magnifications are determined to provide an essentially circular output beam, the cruciform cylindrical lens disposed such that the optical beam exiting the second lens impinges the first, front cylindrical surface.

Abstract: A multiple focal distance light collecting optical device, is characterised in that it consists of a monoblock structure formed of at least a first and a second transparent material (8, 10) formed into lenses (12, 14, 16,) which are applied against and attached to each other the refractive indices and radii of curvature of the faces of such lenses being determined to focus the light rays so as to create an image in accordance with at least two different focal distances (A, B).

Abstract: The compound lens is composed of a glass made lens that has a first curved surface portion and a synthetic resin made lens that has a second curved surface portion along the first curved surface portion of the glass made lens and is united in one body by press fitting this second curved surface portion to the first curved surface portion of the glass made lens.

Abstract: A photographic lens comprising: a front lens group and a rear lens group that are arranged in order from the object side; wherein the front lens group comprises, in order from the object side, a first lens element which is a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface facing the object side, a second lens element which is a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface facing the object side, and a third lens element that is cemented to the second lens element, the third lens element being a negative meniscus lens having a convex surface facing the object side; wherein said rear lens group comprises, in order from the object side, a fourth lens element which is a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface facing the image side; a fifth lens element which is a negative meniscus lens having a concave surface facing the object side; a sixth lens element that is cemented to the fifth lens element, the sixth lens element being a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface facing the image side; and wher

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides a microlens having very small focal length. The present invention also provides a non-planar microstructure having a covering layer which is slowly oxidizing or substantially free of oxygen. The present invention also provides methods for forming such microlenses and microstructures. In addition, the present invention provides a VCSEL which includes one or more non-planar microstructures of the present invention.

Abstract: A lens component comprising a first plastic lens element having a thin glass coating and a second lens element cemented to the glass coated surface of the first plastic element.

Abstract: A photographic apparatus includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a positive first lens of meniscus shape convex toward the object side made from plastic, a negative second lens of bi-concave shape made from plastic, a positive third lens of bi-convex shape made from glass material, and a stop, wherein the following conditions are satisfied:0.8<f1/f<1.18 (1)0.95<(td+sk)/f<1.12 (2)where f1 and f are focal lengths of the first lens and the entire photographic lens, respectively, td is a distance from a lens surface on the object side of the first lens to a lens surface on the image side of the third lens, and sk is a back focal distance during focusing on an infinitely distant object.

Abstract: An objective lens having a doublet structure and a number of apertures of 0.7 or more and an optical pickup apparatus having the objective lens to be adaptable to a optical recording medium having a high information recording density, the objective lens being structured such that at least one side is formed into a aspheric surface and the lens elements are made of low-diffusion glass having an Abbe's number of 40 or greater.

Abstract: An afocal lens system is provided between two different mediums having dirent indices of refraction and dispersion values, and is used in such devices as diver-masks. The lateral chromatic aberration inherent in the usual flat-surface of a transparent protecting mask is greatly reduced. This is done by an arrangement which combines a positive low dispersion lens with a negative high dispersion lens in various arrangements with each other.

Abstract: A system for providing efficient coupling between an elliptical mode laser source and a single mode transmission fiber is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises a cruciform cylindrical lens formed as a pair of perpendicular cylindrical lenses to provide for separate magnification of the "fast" diverging component (i.e., this component passes through a "fast" cylindrical lens) and the "slow" diverging component of the beam (i.e., this component passes through a "slow" cylindrical lens). By decoupling the magnification requirements of the components of the elliptical beam, the beam may be transformed into an essentially circular beam, appropriate for coupling into a single mode fiber. In one arrangement of the present invention, a coupling efficiency of approximately 90% is possible (as compared with prior art coupling efficiency of about 44%).

Abstract: An infrared afocal lens assembly for providing an observed magnified IR ie scene with a field of view and a substantially less temperature dependent performance. The assembly includes a collecting lens, focusing lens subassembly, an intermediate focal plane, an eyepiece lens subassembly, and an aperture stop. A wide field of view lens subassembly may be used about the focusing lens subassembly. All lenses are made of either GaAs or ZnS, and all lenses are either single lens or doublets.

Abstract: The focal length of an objective lens system is substantially equal at two wavelengths: one within the visible spectrum and one within an eyesafe IR spectrum centered about 1.54 .mu.m; the lens is essentially achromatic throughout the entire visible spectrum (0.45 .mu.m -0.70 .mu.m) and is well-corrected for other monochromatic aberrations (spherical aberration, coma, astigmatism, field curvature, and distortion). By having an objective lens that is common to both optical paths (visual and laser) and has the property of having essentially the same focal length and essentially the same angular deviation for the two optical paths upon lens decentration, then a practical mechanism can be included in the opto-mechanical design of a laser rangefinder to adjust the x and y decentration of the objective lens to accomplish a corresponding x and y adjustment of the system boresight.

Abstract: An optical apparatus including a luminous flux shaping filter for converting a shape of an incident beam without bending an optical path of the incident beam. A light beam emitted from a focusing laser source comprising a semiconductor laser is converted into a parallel light beam by a collimator lens, and then enters the luminous flux shaping filter. The luminous flux shaping filter is positioned on an optical path in the apparatus in the manner that a major axis of an oval light beam from the collimator lens is perpendicular to a longitudinal area in which the transmittance is the highest in the filter. As a result, the luminous flux shaping filter converts the oval light beam into a substantially circular light beam without bending an optical path of the light beam.